New Zealand Freshwater Fish

DSC_1165 Manuherikia alpine galaxias (Galaxias aff. paucispondylus 'Manuherikia') are one of 12 species of non-migratory galaxiids disappearing from southern New Zealand at an alarming rate. They are classified Nationally endangered, occupying an area of 17 hectares. This highly disjunct population of Alpine galaxias lives in the headwaters of the Manuherikia River. An, as yet, undescribed species, it is absent from the remainder of the Clutha River system, apart from an outlier in the Locky River - which flows into Lake Wakatipu. The nearest conspecifics are found to the north, in the Ahuriri River, part of the Waitaki River system. Upper Manuherikia River *